As a novice creative with ambition in modern calligraphy, you cannot know everything right away. I completely understand that, because that's exactly how I started. So learn from my mistakes today and read along with the three biggest mistakes starting calligraphers make!
#1: Not spending enough time on the individual letters
I get it. It is so much more fun to immediately write words and nice quotes, but… even with modern calligraphy you will first have to learn to walk before you can run. Just like in the old days with swimming lessons, you start at the shallow end before you can jump into the deep end. If you didn't do all this, you would be hurting yourself all the time - and then you will never learn. (YES it rhymes!)
It is like this. When you still have to worry about how that one letter should be written, you cannot pay attention to the letter that comes AFTER it. Only once you can write all the letters without thinking will you have the space in your head to look ahead - and therefore anticipate how letters connect together to form words.
#2: Working with the wrong materials.
Overly flexible nibs (nibs) that are far too difficult to start with, using the wrong paper which causes ink to 'bleed' very ugly into the structure, DO NOT clean new nibs, these are all missteps that can be made because you simply don't know what you should do! So be sure to read the blog post where I tell you in detail what the best (and my favorite!) calligraphy materials are so that you will simply no longer make mistakes in this area!
#3: Don't invest time and money in good explanations..
Oh, my, goodness. It happens again and again. When I attend a creative fair with Splendith to advise people in the choice of their calligraphy materials, they don't seem to want to accept this from me. Tens of euros are unceremoniously spent on beautiful (and sometimes unnecessary) materials, but a good explanation often falls by the wayside. Reasons like 'but I used to do some calligraphy', 'I'll look something up on the internet' or 'oh well, I'm creative enough' are reasons that I find difficult to talk out of someone's head - but I do look at them with pity ..
I KNOW from experience how much time and energy it takes to learn this on your own. I did it. And I wish I could have taken a workshop or course to avoid having to go through all those hours of frustration. Why I didn't give up in the end is still a mystery to me sometimes. And then I look at these enthusiastic, well-intentioned people who could get success and pleasure from their new hobby so much faster if they followed a workshop or course, but do not see this at the beginning.
Please don't make this mistake yourself if you want to develop your own beautiful calligraphy style. Invest in good explanations. I also said it in my blog about the 5 basic materials every calligrapher needs and I meant it.
The correct writing posture, how to work with a pointed dip pen, how to practice and what the biggest pitfalls are to watch out for; it is valuable knowledge that you can ultimately master in a very short time, if you make smart choices.
For that reason, I started an online modern calligraphy course together with Splendith. For years I have given workshops to hundreds of women (and a few men!) and all this knowledge is now in this manageable and very clear course , especially for you. We have deliberately kept it very affordable for you, because we know how much you, as a starting calligrapher, need this knowledge. Whether it is for a hobby or for a greater ambition.
Do you want to see your calligraphy skills improve in no time? Finally an answer to those questions that (believe me!) everyone faces? Or are you just super excited to get started right? Then start the course with me now!
Would you like a preview? Then watch the trailer of our online course here!
Will I see you soon inside the course doors?
XO, Joyce.
